Game Drives in Lake Mburo National Park

With Standard Safaris you can have an unparalleled game drive in the picturesque Lake Mburo National Park in western Uganda. Lake Mburo National Park covers almost 370 square kilometers of land and lies at an altitude that ranges from 1,220-1,828 meters above sea level. With a wide range of habitats that constitute savannah grassland, woodland, swamps, and lakes among others, Lake Mburo National Park offers breathtaking game drives in a vehicle. This is an exciting opportunity for visitors to traverse through a network of tracks as they explore the eastern hinterland of the calm Lake Mburo itself. During the guided game drive, you can spot numerous savannah mammal and bird species that roam the ecosystem.

Lake Mburo National Park is one of the most blessed destinations in Uganda, with at least 69 mammal species and over 332 species of birds. The unique mammals include impalas, zebras, giraffes, elands, hyenas, leopards, hippos, buffaloes, and sitatungas among others. Nocturnal mammal species that can be spotted during the night game drives include pottos, bushbabies, genets, and bush pigs among others. Bird species to be spotted include the renowned shoebills, grey crowned cranes, papyrus yellow warblers, white-winged warblers, Abyssinian ground hornbills, Ross’ turacos, African wattled lapwings, black-bellied bustards, and red-faced barbets among others.

There are two types of game drives at Lake Mburo National Park, the day game drives and the night game drives. The day game drives are done twice a day, the first starts at around 6:30 AM while the second starts at around 3:00 PM. During these times of the day, the animals are more active in looking for food in the open and therefore can be spotted. The temperature is also low during these moments so they can move under the relatively cooler temperatures instead of hiding under the shade during the warmer times of the day. You are driven by an experienced driver guide, who will help you identify the wildlife species. These game drives can take a duration of up to 4 hours. The night game drives start at around 7:00 PM and take 2-3 hours. Here you are accompanied by an armed park ranger with the help of a spotlight.

Key tracks in Lake Mburo National Park for game drives

Kazuma track
Impala track
Zebra track
Salt Lick track

Other Activities in Lake Mburo National Park besides Game Drives

Birdwatching Excursions

Birdwatching is usually done in the acacia woodland habitats. Here you will spot a variety of extremely colorful birds including the rufous bellied herons, crested francolins, African fish eagles, and the emerald spotted wood doves among others.

Village Tours

Village tours are a perfect way to have an authentic experience with the dynamic and hospitable Banyankole people. Prepare to gain deeper insight into their lifestyles, including the reason why pastoralism is a central part of their unique heritage and other exciting folklore.

Biking/ Cycling

An exquisite cycling or biking experience gives you a unique perspective of exploring the hidden gems of Lake Mburo National Park while riding a bike. This will expose you to different flora and fauna while you actively boost your physical fitness.

Boat trip

A boat cruise is essentially done on Lake Mburo offering a 2-hour peaceful experience on a boat. This experience also offers opportunities for birdwatching and viewing hippos and crocodiles. Viewing the park’s landscapes is also a unique experience for people to take memorable photos as part of their tour. Sport fishing can also be organized for you.

Salt lick walk

Visitors can participate in a captivating nature walk that leads towards a natural salt lick walk which is an animal’s favorite. Here numerous wildlife species gather for these minerals and can be viewed for your amusement.

Horseback rides

These rides take about 4-5 hours and you can enjoy a magnificent horseback ride as you explore the vast savannahs of Lake Mburo National Park and its unique wildlife species. You can also enjoy viewing the 14 lakes within the destination and the uniqueness of the habitat.

Sightseeing

If you are a nature enthusiast, then you can also enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Mburo National Park by having vintage views via the lakeside track. Other sites to get the best panoramic views include the Kazuma lookout near the Ruroko track.

Traveling to Lake Mburo National Park for a Game Drive

Lake Mburo National Park is almost 229.7 kilometers southwest of Kampala and a scenic drive from the city center to the park headquarters takes 4-5 hours. This is on Kampala-Masaka and Masaka-Mbarara roads. Lake Mburo National Park can also be accessed from Kibale National Park via Ibanda-Rushere road and from Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishaka and Mbarara.

When to Visit Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park can be visited any day throughout the year. But your game drive safari depends on some factors, especially your preferences. For travelers who prefer uninterrupted game drives, the dry months are the most suitable. These run from December to February and from June to August. There are minimal chances of rainfall during these months, and the tracks are dry thus offering fewer challenges to traverse them. Visibility in the Lake Mburo National Park is also much better than during the rainy season. This is because it is less cloudy and the vegetation is also less dense. During the dry season, the water sources for the wildlife are also scarce therefore forcing them to congregate in a few water spots where tourists can access them easily.

What to Pack for a tour of Lake Mburo National Park

Light clothes (long-sleeved shirts and trousers/pants)
Raincoat
Binoculars and camera with extra batteries
Wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses
Strong hiking shoes
First aid kit
Bug repellent
Map or campus
GPS
Warm sweater
Refillable water bottle
Snacks

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.

I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.

If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.

The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.

The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.

The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.

I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.

We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.

Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.
The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.
Game drive security is assured.
Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.
Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.
The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.
It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.
I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.
My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.
I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.

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